Crude prices ended the session slightly higher on Thursday as investors weighed the potential disruption to oil flows from major exporter Iran in the face of US sanctions.
Gold prices rose on Thursday as the US dollar backed away from 2018 highs after weaker-than-forecast US inflation data and as tensions between the United States and Iran also supported the precious metal.
The Australian share market has opened higher after Wall Street made strong gains, getting a boost from rising oil prices following the US exit from the Iran nuclear deal.
Oil prices rose about three per cent on Wednesday and hit fresh three-and-a-half year highs after a bigger-than-expected drawdown in US oil inventories extended gains from the United States' decision to quit a nuclear deal with Iran.
Gold prices dipped on Wednesday as safe-haven buying failed to kick in after the United States withdrew from the Iranian nuclear accord, and as rising US Treasury yields added pressure.
The Australian share market has closed slightly higher as strong gains in oil stocks, following the US exit from the Iran nuclear deal, helped offset a heavy decline in Commonwealth Bank shares.
Oil prices recouped some losses to end about two per cent lower on Tuesday after President Donald Trump confirmed the US will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal in a volatile session which saw prices slump as much as four per cent.
The spot gold price is slightly higher following a brief increase on Tuesday after the US dollar backed down from a new 2018 high as worries hovered over the United States' decision to pull out of a key nuclear accord with Iran.
Oil prices rose for the fourth straight day to hit levels not seen since late 2014, boosted by the latest trouble for Venezuelan oil company PDVSA and the possibility that the United States could re-impose sanctions on Iran.
Gold prices have slipped on Monday, snapping three days of gains as the US dollar index strengthened after last week's soft US jobs data did little to dampen optimism about the world's largest economy.
The Australian share market has ended Monday higher, after a positive Wall Street lead and booming oil prices led to early gains, particularly among mining and energy stocks.
ANZ is aiming to clean up its financial planning with new measures that include firing planners who give customers inappropriate advice and removing all sales incentives from its bonus structures.
Australians shares have opened comfortably higher thanks to strong gains in some commodities and after US stocks were buoyed by the release of US employment data.
The Australian dollar has made some small gains on the back of stronger US stocks that were supported by weaker than expected US jobs and wages growth.
Oil prices rose about two per cent on Friday, with US crude hitting its highest in more than three years, as global supplies remained tight and the market awaited news from Washington on possible new US sanctions against Iran.
Gold prices rose slightly on Friday as the US dollar backed off its highs, initially rising after US jobs data was weaker than expected. However the data was still strong enough to support the case for more interest rate increases.
The Australian stock market has opened a touch higher after most base metals prices rose in offshore trade, and Wall Street put in another mixed performance.
